B42 
THE BUFFALO-BIRD. 
buffalo-birds, (Text or erythrorhynchus, Smith,) which act the 
part of guardian spirits to tho animals. When the buffalo 
is quietly feeding, this bird may be seen hopping on tho 
ground picking up food, or sitting on its back ridding it of 
the insects with which their skins are sometimes infested 
Tho sight of tho bird boing much more acute than that of 
the buffalo, it is soon alarmed by tho approach of any dan- 
ger, and, flying up, tho buffaloes instantly raise thoir heads 
to discover tho causo which has led to tho sudden flight of 
their guardian. They sometimes accompany tho buffaloes 
in their flight on tho wing; at other times they sit as above 
described. 
Another African bird — namoly, tho Buphaga Africana— 
attonds the rhinoceros for a similar purposo. It is called 
“ kala” in tho language of tho Bechuanas. When these 
pooplo wish to express their dependence upon another, 
they address him as “ my rhinoceros,” as if they wero tbo 
birds. Tho satellites of a chief go by tho samo name 
This bird cannot bo said to depend entirely on tho insoctfl 
on that animal, for its hard, hairless skin is a protection 
against all except a few spotted ticks ; but it seems to bo 
attached to tho beast somewhat as tho domestic dog is to 
man; and, while tho buffalo is alarmed by tho sudden flying 
up of its sentinel, tho rhinoceros, not having keen sight, 
but an acute oar, is warned by the cry of its associate, tbo 
Buphaga Africana. Tho rhinoceros feeds by night, and its 
sentinel is frequently hoard in the morning uttoring it® 
well-known call as it searchos for its bulky companion- 
One species of this bird, observed in Angola, possesses a bill of 
a poculiar scoop or stone-forceps form, as if intended only 
to tear off insects from tho skin; and its claws are as sharp 
as needles, enabling it to hang on to an animal's oar wbil® 
performing a useful service within it. This sharpness of 
the claws allows tho bird to cling to tho ncarly-insonsiblo 
cuticle without irritating tho nerves of pain on tho true 
skin, exactly as a burr does to tho human hand; but, in tb« 
caso of tho Buphaga Africana and erythrorhyncha, ether 
